Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart Questions Secretary Rubio on FY26 Budget Request

Budget Request Scrutiny

• 🎯 Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, as Chairman of the subcommittee, intends to apply the same scrutiny to the fiscal year 2026 budget request as in previous years.
• ⚠️ He notes that there are large gaps in the information provided and hopes to receive supporting details quickly.

Historical Budget Reductions

• 📉 Since becoming chairman over two years ago, Diaz-Balart has overseen and supported notable reductions in the international affairs budget.
• ✂️ The last two House bills cut funding in the double digits, and the FY24 bill enacted the largest cut of all 12 appropriation bills at 6% in real numbers.

Rationale for Past Cuts

• 🚩 Diaz-Balart pressed for past cuts due to the Biden administration's promotion of an extreme agenda across the State Department and USAID.
• 🚫 He repeatedly warned that promoting controversial programs abroad would weaken support for foreign aid and harm US interests and national security.
• ✅ He supports efforts to review and defund "woke" programs and misguided activities.

Fiscal Year 26 Budget Focus

• 🤝 The focus for the FY26 budget is to work together to determine appropriate funding levels for people and programs needed to advance national security.
• 🇺🇸 Funding should only be provided if it demonstrably advances American leadership, from military assistance to allies to preventing infectious diseases and supporting those under tyranny.
• 👥 It is critically important to ensure a domestic and overseas workforce with the necessary size and capability to manage and oversee funded programs.

Advancing Foreign Policy

• 🚀 Diaz-Balart expresses confidence in Secretary Rubio's capacity to advance President Trump's "America First" foreign policy.
• 💼 He looks forward to working with the Secretary to ensure he has the resources and tools to be successful.